Fountain-pen



I(N MOGL)4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L W. -W. STEWART.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

Nq. 542,450. Patented July 9, 1895.

INVENTOR; /zm W JMW/1 By his tzomeys,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. W. STEWART.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

N0. 542,450, 'Patented July 9,l 1895.

a II

. WITNESSES: INVENTGR:

gaa/ W By his Aitolzeys... z

'p .UNITED ,drains 'Parent Omron@ WILLIAM W. STEWART, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOUNTAINapen.

SPEOIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 542,450, dated July 9, 1895. Application fired March 23, 1894. serial No. 504,759. (No model.)

, To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. STEWART, a citzen. of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification.

The object of thisinvention is to produce a fountain-pen which can be filled from the exterior and without unscrewing any nozzle or pen-section, and which at the same time shallgive a suitably-graduated fiow as a writlng-pen. l `Every user of a fountain-pen must recognize the inconvenience of refilling the reservoir in the' ordinary manner-namely, by unscrewiug the nozzle or pen-holding section and then injecting the ink from a so'called filler. or glass dropper into the open end of' kthe barrel or reservoirand again screwing on the nozzle. Of teu the nozzle is screwed on so tightly or becomes so cemented with ink that it is almost impossible to unscrew it, and there is considerable liability of'smearing the fingers with ink upon withdrawing the'nozzle and' ink-feeder from the reservoir. There is also danger of filling the reservoir too full, so that it overflows; and with many fountain-pens the 'act of screwing back the nhzzle into the barrel causes an overflow of ink through the nozzle, or the spattering of the ink by reason v of the compression of the air in the reservoir,

which air can only escape by forcing its way` out through the film or sma lquantity of ink contained iu the capillary interstices within the nozzle by which the inkis led to theI peu. The advantage of a fountain-pen which can be"filled\by an ordinaryfglass fillerv fromthe exterior and without unscrewing the nozzle must, therefore, beapparent 'It would be easy with most fountain-pens 'to' 'so modify their construct-ich as to enable them to be filled in this way-that is,byincreasing thesize of lthe capillary passagesor interstices through `the nozzle; butafterso modifying the pen it would be found that the conductivity of ink is so greatly increased, and the adhesive' control upon the ink 'so reduced, that liubwriting ther-peu is liable to vive too free a flow/,so as to droplink or blee I have succeededV in devising a construction which admits of 'extermal filling and at, the same timeinsures' against this bleeding.

hand or heavily-shaded writing on the other may be equally well executed.

In carrying out my invention I adopt such a construction as will insure that the ink if introduced against eithera top or under feeder outside the nozzle when the Apen is heldinverted shall be conducted down through the nozzle and to the closed end of the reservoir through capillary spaces or along capillary surfaces, and under such degree of capillary control as to prevent it from overflowing into other spaces or interstices which are provided through the nozzle, and which are`thus kept -clear'or Afree for the unobstructed blowing out of the air which is expelled from the resbe a law of the movement offfluids that the ink will be attracted to and will IiILthoSe spaces which-'are most minute or wherein the surfaces are' closest together, while the air will seek the larger spaces, where'it 'is able spherical form. l'f the interstices through the nozzle had free communication with one another, and Were of approximately uniform shape and size, the stream of ink introduced at the exterior would flow down through the nearest interstices,- and at the same time would flow therefrom laterally into the other 'intersticea and would fill all the interstices or spaces in the 'nozzle and remain hanging or clinging against the surfaces thereof, and would seek to flow down simultaneously through all the interstices, so that i-ts ow would continue only until the air in the reservoir was sufficiently compressed to sustain the column of ink, thus accumulated in the nozzle above, whereupon it would be 'impossible to introduce any further quantity of ink. This is what occurs iu almost any ordinary fountain-peu when attempting to till it from the exterior. Bycarrying one or more capillary surfaces from the nozzle through to the lower end of the reservoir this difficulty may tion of-tleink down underneath the body of air,` but asthe latter cannot escape without displacing some of the ink which clogs the nozzle either the entrance of ink ceases or ervoir bythe nf'lowing ink. I believe itA to to retain a nearer approach to cylindrical or IOO be somewhat obviated by Jconducting a por.. v

such shape as to afford capillary spaces of unequal size, or having surfaces unequally seperated from one another, so that the descending stream 0f ink shall cling to the surfaces most 4closely adjacent and shall leave the v wider spaces free for the outflow of air as it is expelled from the reservoir. An absolute separation between different intersti ces for at least a part of their length is also desirable and is readily eff'ected by employing the pen itself as a partition dividing the nozzle.

The ink being injected against one side of the pen, flows down on that side, enters -andrtills the minutest capillary spaces or the narrow, est portions of the spaces, and descends or slides down against these surfaces, which continually conduct it to the lower end of the reservoir and carry it past the upwardly-flowing current ot' air without the ink being diverted laterally, so as to overflow into and lill and obstruct the other interstices through which the air is given Ventl y My invention may take numerous different mechanical forms, it being only essential that the spaces or interstices left between the mei chanical parts passing through the nozzle shall conform to the conditions rjust stated and that one'of such parts shall constitute an extension passing through the reservoir, to which the ink may cling and by which it shall be guided in its passage toward the closed end of the reservoir,in order that the ink maybe delivered beneath the body of air'to 'expel it, instead of over any portion of the air, so as to imprison it. Preferably I employ one or more feed bars or tubes extending continuously from the pen-slit through the nozzle and to within a short distance of the closed end of the reservoir;I but the construction of such mechanical bars or tubes may be greatly varied.

In practice I prefer a split or slitted tube in connection with the pen, the shank of the latter dividing the opening or throat through the nozzle, so thatl one half of the divided tube passes against` the outer or convex side of the pen, while the other half lies against its inner or concave side. I .also by preference employ a wire thrust through the' bore of the`tube to 'further contract the spaces.

Figure l o'f the accompanying drawings shows .aj fountain-pen of my improved construction in'longitudinal mid-section. Fig. 2

j is a side elevation of the nozzle, pen, and inkconductors removed from the barrel. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the ink-conductors detached. Figs.1 4, 5, and 6 are transverse sections on a larger scale, cut on the lines 4, 5, and 6, respectively, in Fig. l. Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the operation of injecting ink. The remaining figures illustrate moditied constructions. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of one modification, of which Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sections on a larger scale, cut in the planes of the lines 9 9 and 10 l0 in Fig. 8. Fig.11 is a longitudinal midsection of another modification, of which Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are transverse sections on a larger scale, cutin the planes ofthe lines 12 12, 13 13, and 14 14, respectively, in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, let A designate the reservoir-holder in each construction, and B the pen. Itis essential to such a reservoirholder that it be closed at the upper or rear end and partially closed or obstructed at .the

lower or pen-holding end, commonly called the nozzle. For convenience of construction the holder A is made in two partsnamely, a barrel C and a nozzle or pen-section D-which are screwed together and which in ordinary fountain-pens are unscrewed in order that the reservoir may be filled with ink. The reservoir is the hollow space within the holder A.

The pen B, which may be a gold, steel, or other pen, may be variously fitted or mounted in the nozzle,but preferably so thatits shank shall constitute a partition dividing the bore or throat through the nozzle, as hereinafter explained.

It is common in ,fountain-pens to provide an ink-feeder or feed tube or bar extending through the nozzle, and either under or over the pen and projecting into the mass of ink in the reservoir to a greater or less dista-nce, so

as to form a capillary feeder/for conducting' or drawing the ink from the reservoir down to the slit in the pen. more-such bars lare employed, sometimes being arranged both above and below the pen a-nd sometimes being tubular and provided with an internal wire or rod to subdivide the tubular bore and control the air-bubbles. In any case'such feeders by passing through the nozzle divide the opening or passage therethrough into small spaces called capillary interstices. These spaces are small enough so that their bounding surfaces approach so closely together as to have acapi'llary control over the ink which enters the interstices, so that this ink shall be restrained from falling or dropping out ofthe interstices, while no obstacle is presen-ted to its being drawn through them, as required in writing, to supply the pen. According to my present invention these feeders or feed-bars are so coustructed as to impart to them a new function-namely, that of conducting the ink into the reservoir when fijlling the pen, as well as of conducting it from the reservoir down to the peu-slit in the act of writing. I therefore call them ink-conductors. They may be one, two, or more in number, according to circumstances, and they may constitute the sole means for subdividing the passage through the nozzle into capillary interstices,

In some cases two or uol lone end nearly to the other. and then by softening the rubber by heat I bend the two legs thus formed slightly, so that they stand about as shown in Fig. 3. Preferably one side of the tube is slitted through entirely to the end, forming the slit ct.V By this construction the greater partV of the tube is divided into f two legs, (lettered F and G, respectively,) and `might be wholly disconnected from each these constitute two ink-conductors. They other, but for convenience, and because it is not desirable to have so many parts, they are connected through/the undivided portion of the tube. This .structure which as a-whole v `I will call the tubefis thrust through .the nozzle D with its two legs or conductors F G emerging at the front, respectively, above and below the pen B and extending paallel with the pen-shank and communicating with the slit thereof, so that they serve as feeders for the ink when the fountain-pen is in use.

In the construction shown the pen B is fixed in place by its shank, which is slightly narrowed, being forced into diametrically-opposite grooves b b in the nozzle D, as shown in Fig. 4. In addition, and in order further to reducein size the capillary interstices, I thrust a wire H, preferably of silver, through the tube E from the rear, this wire being long enough to emerge beyond the end of the conductor/G beneath "the pen, as shown. It is preferably formed with an eye c' at its inner end to preventjts slipping out and is held fromy .slipping back' when in place by frictional contact with the conductor G and the pen. Preferably, also, the inner end of .the

tube E is pinched in against this wire so as to frictionally grasp it. By referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that this construction provides a number of different-shaped interstices within the nozzle of the older, and communicating more or less directly with the pen-surfaces.- O'n'top of the pen are', ahalfand theinner Wall of the nozzle.

ently disposed', leaving the interstices as 1 slmwnin,l"ig.5. Still fartherbackand within Vthe 'reservoir' the part-s are disposed as shown .in Fig..6. l

To fill this fouutain-pen without unscrewing the nozzle, as my invention contemplates,

'\ it is 'held inv'erted and an ordinary filler 'by -solid'black in that figure.

(shown 'ah-J in Fig. 7 and consisting of a glass tube drawn to a point and fitted with a compressible rubber bulb, being first filled with the ink in the well-known manner) has 4its tube placed against the fountain-pen in the position shown in Fig. 7, whereupon,lby compressing the bulb slowly, theink is expelled from the ller in a steady stream against one of the ink-conductors F or G and descends along this conductor into the reservoir without interruption of its flow by the air which is expelled by displacement by the entering ink. If the attempt were made to fill in this manner any ordinary fonntainpen not constructed according to my invention, the ink introduced at the nozzle would quickly fill and occupy all the spaces or passages through the nozzle andwould then overfiow without entering in any considerable quantity into the reservoir, for the reason that the ink would itself seal the only openings through which the confined air could escape from the reservoir, so that the ink attempted to be introduced would rest in a. bath supported above. the volume of air which is imprisoned in the reservoir; butby my improved yconstruction the ink whichis thus delivered from the filler .I descends in a direct stream into the lower part of the reservoir without tillin'g all the interstices through the nozzle, and hence without obstructing the orifices through which the airis expelled. For example, placing the filler .I against the concave side of the pen, as shown in Fig. 7, and directly over the conductor G, as shown, the ink delivered from it enters at once iY to the interstices marked 3 4 in Fig. 4, in which interstices it is shown It descends4 through this as.far as the heel/of the pen, and then clings to the surfaces of the conductor G and wire H, descending againstthem in the manner .shown by solid black in'Fig. 5. After the ink passes the contraction ofthe nozzle and enters the open chamber of the reservoir there is 'but slight liability of its obstructingthe movement of air, providedonly that it has 'some conducting-surface to cling to as i it descends. In Fig). 6 it is shown as fiowng down in the spaces between the conductor G and wire Il and the inner. wall of the reservoir, either or both of which it may follow. The opening or swelling apart of the conductors F G, within `the reservoir, in thel manner shown, is found to be practically desirable with this construction, since ywithout this feature the iniirwis less free and IIO there is some liability that all the air may the holder are dry, so that the course taken by the ink 'may be ascertained by taking the fountain-pen apart and noting which surfaces are wetted. In the ordinary use of a fountainpen, however, it is refilled whilethe internal surfaces, which are protected from evaporation, are still moist, and in such case it may be that the in k will descend by someslightly-different I path, although this is not probable, since pracltical experiment shows that the filling of the reservoir occurs to the same apparent effectf whether the interior surfaces be wet or dry. The point at which the ink is injected, however, has a considerable influence upon the path it takes. If the tiller J is applied to the opposite side of the pen at the top of the conductor F, the course of the ink will be on the reversesidecom pared with that de scribed-that is, it will be along the conductor F and between it and the wire H, while the spaces shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6f'as being occupied by ink remain free for the escape of air. If, however, thetop ofnthe filler be placed against the side of either conductor F or G, .the eiiect is not materially different, except that the ink instead ot' descendingdirectly appears to be drawn laterally into the more minute interstices between the adjacent conductor and the pen, and then to-descend, although some portion 'of it appears to descend directly along the exterior or convex face of the cond uctor. The stream of ink may be direct-ed by the filler over any of theinterstices through the nozzle, and-in e-ither case the filling can be effectively` performed.

The operation of the pen in filling is due to two forces-namely, gravitation and capillary attraction `or adhesion. By gravitation the ink tends to descend rapidly' into the reser- 49 voir, and does so descend if a clear path-be 4 5 terstices'is resorted to.

afforded it and its movement be not opposed by the resistance otered by compressed air. To afford the path or guide for the ink capillary attraction or surface adh ion of the in- It is well known that capillary attraction in an interstice 'varies inversely as`the distance apart of the Walls or bounding-surface of the interstice, so that it is much stronger in 'the narrow spaces than 5o in the wider ones, andconsequently the ink that is-introduced is instantly drawn into the narrow'est spaces or interstices with which itcan communicate, and while clinging to these `Jsurfaces it is drawn down into the reservoir by gravitation. The tiow of the ink into all of `the spaces or ixiterstices so as to choke them up and prevent escape of airis avoided in part by the partition that is afforded by the shank portion of the pen B, which extends 6o. for a considerable distance into the lbore or throatof the nozzle and serves to divide it. This division is sufficient to impart direction to the ink, so that it is already started and rapidly moving downward before itfhas any possible communication with the (inter-sticos on the opposite side of the pen. After leaving the heel of the pen the ink clings to those surfaces nearest' it, and being drawn down by gravitation as rapidly as it is introduced it has no opportunity to accumulate and overflow and leap across to the more remote surfaces. Consequentlyr the larger spaces are left free for the movement of air, so that thus a clear path is preserved through which the air may be blown out, as its place is taken by the introduced ink.

.-An important feature of my invention is the provision of notches e e in the protruding ends of the conductors F and G. The effect of these notches `is to afford free and ample communication between the supply of ink and the pen, so that the pen is enabled to supply rapidly and continuously a large Volume of ink when required for shading or heavy writing. These notches form little chambers or cross-passages in whifch an added amount of ink can cling, constituting thus a sortof supplementaryreservoir. Aside from this feature the operation of my improved fountain-pen in writing is substantially the same as that of other fountain-pens of this same general character. The ink descends to the pen as it is required, being drawn down by the ink-conductors from the mass of ink in the reservoir,'and its place being taken by air which gradually works up into the reservoir through the interstiees', or passages throughV the nozzle. y

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 10 the two conductors, .here lettered F and G', re-

spectively, are disconnected from each other, each belng a half tube, and are turned back -the less number ofV disconnected parts and because of the more ample flow and greater capacity for shading, due to the arrangement of the hollow of the conductors against the pen in connection with the notches e." This modified construction can be filled by applying the ink to either the upper or under sides of the pen. f

Figs. 1l.to'14shew-a further modification in which only one conductor is employed, extending'to or near the closed end of the reservoir. This conductor (lettered F2) extends along .the top of the pen and throughthe nozzle and into the reservoir, being identical in construction with the.conductor F Fin Fig. 8.

'Beneath the pen and extending part wa ably-restricted interstices. It consists of a channeled bar or part of a tube arranged with f its hollow'against the concave side ofthe pen, as shown inFig. 12. This construction of pen is best filled by introducing the ink against,v

the conductor F2. It is,'however, feasible to fill it by introducing the inl within the bar G2, from the lower end of which the ink apparently liows down against the walls of the reservoir or against .the convex surface of the conductor F2, while the air apparently escapes -through the interstice f.

The construction of the ink-conductors as half-.round or grooved bars or tube sections is not essential, as bars of other shapes may be substituted, but those shapes or any shapes introducing segments of circles I find to give the most eective results. My invention may be Aotherwise considerably modified in construction w'ithout departing f rornits essential I dition, on being first filled, to its action when its surfaces become soaked or saturated and capillary action is established, this diderence being most apparent with hard rubber as the material of the fountainholder, this having been found the only practicable ma'- terial. Some fountain-pens have-.been constructed in ignorance of this principle, so that they operate most perfectly only when .first filled, and in a few hours, when the saturated condition has been reached, the How being governed by different forces from those at first invoked, 'becomes uncontrollableby the writer. Heretofore some such pens have been made which, when dry,'can be filled from the exterior, but which, cannot be so filled or refilled when saturated under the conditions of practical use. My invention does not include such pens, but applies to such only as are constructed on correct principles for a practical automatic control of the feed of ink in writing by capillary action. My specification and claims are to be read on the understandingl that such practical or operative condition of use is alone referred to. 4

`Iclailn as my invention the followingfde-- fined novel features, substantialiyas hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. A fountain pen constructedwith a reser- 'voir holderclosed at its rear end and having its pen-holding end or nozzle obstructed, the obstructed passage through said nozzle being formed as capillary spaces or intersticesof varying widths including narrower portions for attracting ink and wider portions extend-` ing continuously from the reservoir to the exterior for the escape of air, so that in filling the inverted pen the ink will descend in the narrower spaces, and the wider ones will be left free for4 the outflow of air, and an ink-4 conductor constituting part of the obstruction ofsaidvnozzle, extending through the latter from thev exterior and prolonged within the A reservoir to near the closed end thereof,

whereby in filling to serve asa guide to the entering ink to carry it tothe lower part of the reservoir past the contained air to avoid imprisoning the latter or obstructing its escape.

2. A fountain pen constructedwith a reservoir holde` closed 'at its rear end and having its peni-holding end or nozzle obstructed, the obstructed passage through said nozzle being formed as capillary spaces or nterstices of varyingwidths.including narrower portions lfor attracting ink andiwider portions extend.-

ing continuously from the reservoir t'o the exterior for the escape of air, so. that in filling the inverted pen the ink will descend in the narrower spaces; and thewider ones will be Y leftfree forthe outflow of air, and an inkconductor constituting part of the obstruction of said nozzle, extending through the latter from the exterior and prolonged within the reservoir to near the closed end thereof, and

a partition in the nozzle separating the inter- Vstices on opposite sides of it,'so as in filling the pen Vto tend to prevent the entering ink introduced into the nterstices on one side thereof from overflowing into those on the opposite side and thereby choking thern against the free escape of air.

roo

r 3. A fountain pen constructed with la reservoirholder closed at its rear end andhaving its pen-holding end or nozzle obstructed, the obstructed passage through said nozzle being -formed as capillary spaces or nterstices of varying widths including narrower portions for attracting ink and wider portions extending continuously from the reservoir tothe exterior fo-r the escape of air, so'that in filling 'the vinverted pen the ink'will descend inthe narrower spaces, and the widerones will be left free for the outflow of air, and an ink conductor constituting part of the obstruction of said nozzle, extending through t latter from the exteriorand prolonged wit in the reservoir to near the closed end thereof,`and the pen arranged in the nozzle to divide its bore and serve as a partition separating the nterstices/on opposite sides of it, so as in filling thfe pen to tend to prevent the entering ink introduced in to the nterstices on one side thereof frol'n overflowing into those on the opposite side and thereby choking them against the free escape o'f air. I

4. A fountain pen constructed with a reser-v I voir-holder closed at its rear endand having its pen-holding end-or nozzle obstructed, the

obstructed passage through said nozzle being formed as capillary spaces or nterstices with the pen arranged in the nozzle to divide its bore, and an'ink conductor or bar constituting part of the obstruction of said nozzle, ex\ tending from the exterior of the p'eu along the pen-shank, through the nozzle and intothe reservoir nearly to the closed end thereofL and constructed to form a continuous longitudinal capillary conductor to which the ink may cling as it descends into the inverted holder in filling, whereby the'entering ink is restrained from obstructing the'v interstices through which the air escapes.

5. A fountain peu constructed with a reser Voir holder closed at its rear end and having to its pen-holding end or nozzle obstructed, the obstructed passage through said nozzle formed as capillary spaces or interstices with, the pen arranged in th'e nozzle to divide its bore, and two inkonductors or bars constituting part t 5 of the obstruction of saidnozzle, arranged on opposite sides of the pen and extending from, )the exterior through the nozzle and into the reservoir, and one or both prolonged Within the reservoir to near the closed end thereof, and 2o forming a continuous longitudinal capillary conductor to which the ink may cling as it descends into theinverted holder in lling.

6. In a fountain pen,'the combination with the reservoir holder and pen, of two ink con- 2 5 ductors or feed bars mounted on opposite sides, of the pen loosely filling the nozzle of the holder so as to leave interstices around them, and extending from the exterior through the nozzle and into the ink reservoir, and longitudinally grooved-pr rounded so as to form approximately segments of tubes in cross-sec.- tion, whereby they serve as feeders for taking the ink to the pen, and in filling the inlverted holder one of them may serve to conduct the entering ink and -carry it into the reservoir.`

7. vIn a fountain pen, the combination with the reservoir holder and pen, of two ink vconductors or feed bars mounted on opposite sides -4o of the penand extending from the exterior in parallel manner through the nozzle and loosely filling the nozzle so as to form varying interstices between them and the pen and nozzle, prolongedinto. the ink reservoir, and

4 5 flared apart within the ink reservoir so as to form a clear space for movement of air between them.

8. In a fountain pen, the combination with the reservoir/holder'and pen, of two ink con- 5o ductors or feed bars F and G constructed as segments of atube mounted on opposite sides of the pen so that the latter divides their common. bore, extended through `the nozzle and.' into the ink reservoir, and flared .apart in the latter to fortnjat'ree passage' between them for movementoair. 9. In a. lfountai en,.the combination with Vthe reservoir heldin' and pen', of a divided tube E, the legs F G of which constitute ink conductors extending through the nozzle and lying against opposite sides of the pen, said legs y being flared or bowed -apart within the ink the nohzle, and one or both prolonged into the I reservoir to near the closed end thereof, and a wire extended along one of said yink conductors from the rear part of the reservoir to the pen.

11. In a fountain pen,'the combination with the reservoir holder and pen, of two ink conductors consisting of longitudinally grooved or rounded bars as segments `of tubes, extended through the nozzle, and one or both prolonged within the 'reservoir to near the closed end thereof, and a wire extended parallel with one of said ink conductors and lyig in the groove thereof. f

12. In a fountain pen,`the combination with the reservoir holder and pen, of` an ink conductor consisting of a longitudinally grooved bar as a segment of a tube extended through the nozzle into the ink reservoir and down along the pen, and constructed with notches c c' in its portion communicating-with the pe'n surface.

` 13. In a fountain pen, the combination with the reservoir holder and pen, of two ink conductors consisting of the opposite legs of a split tube extended through the nozzle and into the reservoir, and lying against opposite sides of the pen, and formed with notches e e on their projecting portions lying against the pen.

14. A fountain pen having continuous interstices through its nozzle of varying widths,

graduated to fill withink andbubhles of air in writing tol control the flow, and'so proportioned that when the pen is inverted and ink is supplied to the exterior, the Aink descends into the reservoir through the narrower spaces and leaves a wider space or interstice unobstructed for ex-halation of air, whereby the pen maybe refilled without unscrewing the nozzle.

my name 1n thel .presence of twoqsubscribing Witnesses:

ARTHUR .0. FRASER,

' FRED 'WHITE In witness whereof I have hereunto signed` rocl 

